Thank you so much for sharing your journey. At 67 I retired and decided to learn guitar. I’m 75 now. Of course I still have so much to learn. Hearing your journey was so enjoyable and inspiring. It made want to pick up the guitar even more.😊 You have a special knack of humanizing the guitar learning experience. It can be so lovely and frustrating at the same time. Stumbling across your video really made my morning. Thank you so much!
If it makes you feel any better I’m playing 40 years and I still get frustrated. You are never don’t learning … as soon as you open a new door on the guitar in the form of an improvement the joy is short lived because you learn that behind that door you just revealed 100 new doors lol. Best of luck to you
i man 69 and started 3 years ago alone without teacher ...easiar for me to start with electric ....strumming makes me a lot of problems ...the next i like to play country but found that i can not sing so no way ....i am fascinated of Jimi Hendrix ,,,so i started to learn Hey Joe ...now i am trying to play the first layer of Tash Sultana Dschungel ...now after i tryed to learn a tune from Bob Marley i learned to play the rythm in the tune ,,,which is a kind of raeggae ...also the problem with the barcords that they sound nice ...so much to learn in technics sorry for my poor english ..i am german ...greatings from Colombia
I've been playing for 60 years, still get frustrated at times but have learned to appreciate how wonderful the resonance of the guitar soothes my body and soul!
I’m 73 and I laid down my electric and picked up an acoustic ( actually a nylon string classical) when I heard Mason William’s Classical Gas. I have been finger picking since.
That was fascinating, love watching how someone’s journey develops. I only started at 50 years old and have the comfort blanket of RUclips and yet I am not even in the same league as people like you. I always admire musicians who could pick up how to play from listening to things over and over again also you have a really listenable, relaxed singing voice …. all in all, a great watch!
The first day I got a guitar, I learned the E chord. My brothers were into bluegrass and would sit around and play. I think it was "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms." I just kept hammering that E chord. They finally asked me to stop till I learned a couple more chords.
Hmm i replied to this earlier but for some reason its now showing up right. LOL .. but yes we just keep playing it and playing it until people cant stand it.. then play it some more!! haha
Im doing that right now. My first song after 6 months of nothing but fundamentals, the last 2 weeks I've been playing Blackbird every way I can. Changing the patterns, adding some other chords, extending this, shortening that. I started very late. I told myself the first year i wouldn't be able to play anything, just practicing chords, finger picking in a bunch of stules, and each day try to make music with those patterns and chords. Still can't shift chords fast enough to be musical half the time. I can make little songs out of all the chords though and am pushing hard on changes. For Blackbird I had to learn to use my nail faces claw hammer style. Made it so much more efficient and dynamic. I still pluck alot and pinch pick constantly, but that quick flick has opened things up. I have so far to go, just about getting a taste of what it will feel like to play guitar. I got this uncontrollable need to know what it feels like. Got some guitars that let me practice when i usually couldn't. Enya nova go acoustic to get wet and bang up, traveler headless for red lights. Im only half joking. Ramble over.
That's quite a difficult song to play for the first piece. Just shows you how fantastic this song is that it motivated you enough to bite yourself through it.
@@TheHesseJames Ok, by “first song” I’m not including your typical 3 chord country or blues. Everyone’s first rock chord progression was likely Smoke on the Water… t’was mine. 😆
@@Bushman9 Was literally my first song as well. I saw a guitar, grabbed it said to myself "Let's see how would I play Smoke on the Water". I thought I totally nailed it by playing it all in halfsteps somewhere on the sixth string :D
So glad I ran across your RUclips channel! At my age (70) I find there's still much to be learned. Your style is so laid back and easy to watch. Thanks for doing what you do!
I’m 71 now and still plays those songs you have mentioned. My journey is almost like yours as far as falling in love with acoustic guitars. I was I think 8 years old and my older brother borrowed a guitar from a friend and when he got tired of it he placed it in a corner and I picked it up and started messing with it. I found the C chord with just 2 fingers same with the G chord with one finger playing just the 4 strings since my hand was too small for my fingers to reach the other 2 strings. I found that the song The Wedding I can basically play with just those 2 chords and that was it I got hooked. I sang and played that song all night.
Nice story, I had a few chuckles! I started playing guitar in the mid 70's at 14( Alfred's). I got my 1st electric at 15 started a band and the guitar literally didn't leave my hands until I was 31 years old. At 31 I played what was to be my last gig, put my guitar in it's case, and unintentionally did not touch it for 30 years. Last year I sold the tech company I founded 30 years ago and found guitar again. This time I am obsessed by acoustic finger style. Your comment about having to learn songs by playing records over and over at half speed made me laugh. I wore out so many of my favorite albums learning songs. I love U-tube and certainly makes it easier, but there was a certain satisfaction in learning a song by ear the old way. The human imperfections and differences in the way my ear heard the songs is what gave me my style back in the day. There also weren't many kids that would spend their weekends playing the same Clapton lick over and over a 1000 times in order to learn it. So when you put in the work, you got a lot of attention for it. Not a bad thing for a geeky 15 year old.. lol
Hey there. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us all. Very inspirational especially you coming back after some time away from it. Wish you all the best
@@FrankPersico Thanks for the reply! I enjoy your channel.. I may yet end up doing some acoustic gigs, I will see how the playing progresses.. It's not like riding a bike, it is going to take some work!
My parents was country,my dad was a musician and tried to encourage me to learn..but when I became a teenager and heard a Led Zeppelin song “Over the Hills and Far Away “ that really inspired me to learn guitar (which deeply disappointed my dad 😢) 🤷🏻♂️..thank you
I love the way you struck a single chord on A Horse With No Name ans showed how that made music which was more than lots of fancy fingerwork. Not that the fancy fingerwork doesn't count, obviously, but it gives a limited old guy like me some hope
It’s all in the touch.. dynamics.. tone..and timing… that’s what makes people want to listen. Master the small details and people will want to hear you play. Thanks for commenting
playing guitar is cool, but story telling is one of the greatest skills to acquire. You are a great storyteller, really enjoyed this video. when I was a Senior in high school I worked w/ TV repairman who in time became my best friend. He was the OG bluesman, I was in awe of his playing and one day , after listening to him for some time, I said I would give my left leg to be able to play like that, He said ... well, would you practice 30 min a day? I started playing that day . I never have been able to play like David but it has enriched my life non the less
I took some lessons in the early 70's and Alfred was the man back then too!!! Didn't do much after that. Really didn't start getting to it heavy until I was 61 a couple of years ago. Got really bad sick with covid. Pretty much retired now and have time to really get after it!
Got twenty years on you, but I remember my journey clearly. House of the rising sun, Beatles, moody blues, Santana, Ten years after, CSN. Then my dad moved us to Los Angeles when I was 19 and I got steamrolled by the Southern California sound in the early 70’s. Eagles, Linda Ronstadt etc. so many fun songs I still play 50 years later. Thank Frank! Very enjoyable!
I started playing later in life at 49 but some of those songs were my starters. Wish you were here, horse with no name. My Beatles first was love me do. Brown eyed girl, american pie. You never forget your first songs. Great video.
The first song I learned on guitar was Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovie, then went on to learn Friends in low places, Killing time and various other country songs by artists like Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Allan Jackson, and George Straight from the 90's. I used to walk down the street to a BBQ place on Thursday nights when I was 12 and play those country songs for 2 pulled pork sandwiches. I thought that was the life.
Hotel California, Wish you were here, Old Man, More than a feelin, Sound of Silence and the Boxer, etc... My songs I learned from. Started playing at 47, now 57 and I am building my own electrics, an acoustic will also happen. LOL
Started out on my dads acoustic, learning three chords C,F and G. Later learned other chords then on to bar chords. When to electric guitars etc. I have always been of the mind set that the acoustic should be the first guitar to learn on. The strength your hands and fingers. You can't cheat on the sound .
I enjoyed your video, thank you for sharing. I'm 69 years old and I started learning the guitar two years ago, I don't use a pick. Horse with No Name is one of my favourite songs, I need to learn it. I have very small hands so it's been physically challenging but I love the guitar and I'm obsessed! My baby finger is only 1 3/4", that's my obstacle as it makes a lot of chords difficult, 4 finger G is a pain. I have a friend who plays by ear and he pushed me to do barre chords right from the beginning, I'm getting pretty good. ?? He also says "just listen" which is very intimidating. I wonder how important that is at my age and with chords for any song being available immediately, I didn't want to spend hours, days or months trying to learn a song by ear but I have found that it happens naturally to some extent. I'm not musically gifted but I know practicing and enjoying playing produces good results. I'm also learning to sing, that's very trippy, the voice coming out of my face always surprises me but I think I sound good. ?? lol I've learned the following songs, some are fairly new and I'm still working on them. Wish You Were Here Creep Mad World House of the Rising Sun Hotel California Short People For What It's Worth Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald And I Love Her While My Guitar Gently Weeps Where Have All the Flowers Gone Eleanor Rigby Angie Come As You Are Dancing in the Moonlight. My Ding -a-Ling Stray Cat Strut Fire and Rain, I must learn this one.
The song that opened my mind to fingerpicking was Landscape. And then after learning the fingerpicking, it was another layer of learning to be able to sing it while part of my brain was on auto doing the fingerpicking. And finally incorporating a melody over the background fingerpicking was something I never imagined I could do. I’m addicted to fingerpicking now.
fun fact that surprises people.... Clapton's Unplugged is actually the biggest selling "live" album of all time. It was played in front of a live audience for MTV, so it qualified as a "live" album and went on to far surpass the sales of any other live album in history.
First time I stumbled across you. The internet is a very big place. I love this video. When you first started talking I thought “Oh no. One of THOSE guys that love their voice more than guitar” BUT your stories were humble and enchanting, not a bunch of bragging. Thanks!
Great video! The two songs what took a HUGE amount of my time.... 1). Blackbird - The Beatles | 2). Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths. Oh, what did I learn!? That the Key of E in the Piano Book (pre-internet), was actually the Key of C with a capo on the fourth fret.... now the impossible became an enormous challenge!!!!! Good times, good times. Again, your journey was very enjoyable, thanks for sharing.
1st two songs same, 3rd was Over the Hills, 4th was Enter Sandman, 5th was wish you were here(singing started here) 6th was Say what you will, 7th was Nutshell, 8th was Sanitarium, 9th was From the beginning, 10th Hang by Matchbox 20(singing).
I was taught finger-style picking when I was 13 in 1971. So I learned songs by Chet Atkins and Meryl Travis. But in my late teens, the acoustic songs I loved to hear and learned to play, were the Beatles, Black Bird; the Moody Blues, In The Beginning; and the acoustic intro for Yes, Roundabout.
I was 12 and mom got me guitar lessons from a guy who advertised in the local paper. I went down to his basement and there was a whole band set up. He played some type of electric guitar. He. Showed me 3 chords during the first lesson, wrote the diagrams on a sheet of paper, showed me how to form them with my fingers. Then he asked me what song I wanted to learn and wrote the lyrics down and the chord names in. The appropriate spot. I don’t recall the first one, but I took that home and worked on it like crazy. I loved it, I was actually making music I recognized. I took 10 lessons from him and have been playing ever since. I still have those sheets and remember his name some 50 years later.
We must be close to the same age...recognize all of those! I can only play one or two of them right now. You've inspired me to pick up at least six more of those
Awesome journey ! I grew up in Queens, went to Newtown HS, recall having White Castle burgers and Nathan’s hot dogs on the Blvd. Tried learning to play when my teenage daughter started 15 years ago but gave up - busy life, working. I’m retired now and at 69, just picked up the guitar 6 months ago, it’s slow going but fun. With access to videos like yours, I’m hopeful that my journey is on a path towards lifetime of enjoyment. I love the sound of the dozen or so chords I can play on my acoustic guitar. I’m still at the Horse with No Name stage but hope to advance….
A fellow Queens native! Thanks for commenting. When you say White Castle in the boulevard do you mean Rockaway Blvd??? Anyhoo good luck with your playing and it will progress. Enjoy the victories along the way!!
@@FrankPersico I could walk to Queens Blvd from high school in Elmhurst. I’ve been ones on Rockaway Blvd too. Thanks for your encouragement, I love acoustic guitars !!
Well done .. brings back memories.. yes.. the horse with no name .. played that too early on .. and it grabs u and really takes u on a journey.. Beatles tune in beginning was GET BACK.. James Tayler you‘ve got a friend .. I loved playing.. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge over troubled water .. that’ll be the day buddy holly .. can’t help falling in love Elvis .. thank you .. thank you very much!!!
For my gang....it was House of the Rising Sun for our weekend beach outings....Drinking beer at 16 years of age and playing some guitar...what little songs we knew how to play...
Old fart here: the ‘killer’ groove for me was on House of the Rising Sun. By the third lesson it was ‘revealed’-nothing but a simple arpeggio of chords I had to learn anyway- and I was floored.
65 now.....Jim Croce's 'Time In A Bottle" made me pick up the guitar, but yeh-soon graduated on to James Taylor ("You Can Close your eyes" -Fav)and the wondrous Guitar style, songwriting ,voice (and Tunings) of John Martyn . Also huge shout out to Mark Knopfler and Sting. Also love a bit of Early America and of course The Eagles.
Yep. Croce, the Eagles, America and one you didn't mention - Don Mclean - all helped me seal the deal with my future wife... 45 years ago and counting. See, it is possible!
Excellent choices to learn from. Your journey has a few from mine as well. although mine started when I heard Jim Croce. Such an amazing singer/songwriter.😊
Awesome. Thank you❤ I have been learning guitar for about a year now and have only managed a few open chords... I want to learn fingerstyle now... Your video gives me hope and also tells that it takes time, but with practice, one does get there eventually!
Of course. Proper direction and patience will get you there. Feel free to reach out via email (in the about section of my page) if you had any questions or if you ever wanted to set up an online one on one. I wish you the best in your guitar journey!! And thanks for commenting :):)
Hearing you recount your journey in an accent I am so familiar with was pure joy. I grew up not far from you out on the Island (Setauket / Stony Brook) and had a similar experience moving along the acoustic guitar learning curve. The songs that stand out are: Carolina in my mind If you could read my mind Anything by Creedance Thanks for your enthusiasm (infectious) and your ability to relate to those that are still learning (I'm 67 :) )
Great video! I watched from beginning to end then immediately subscribed. These are all great songs. I’m an older guy taking up guitar later in life. Your video is inspiring.
I love the nostalgic memories of the 80 s. The banana seat, the memory of mother buying your first guitar. Back then, things had more meaning and value, and you had to wait for stars to align to get some things you wished for. The same feeling was in the nostalgic movie about 80s kids plotting to aquire Nintendo... I also like your child bemusement at the techniques that produced certain melodies. I remember those too.
A great selection of songs Frank and I have to say I was privileged to be a teenager in the 60s in UK so I knew all about the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Eric Clapton. I was a late starter only playing guitar properly when I was 18 in 1969 and I'm now 72. Do I add to this list or also put Don McLean and Donovan. And to make it very folky the King of folk guitar in Britain, Ralph McTell. Check out his most famous song streets of London and many others Clare to Here, ZigZag Line, and the epic Nettle Wine. I also listen to other players but could never play their stuff such as Stefan Grossman., Burt Jansch, John Redbourne, John Martyn.
Nothing Else Matters is the song I wanted to learn so badly. I now play it..badly.. Plus Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, Tangerine, The Rain Song, etc etc. Basically anything by Jimmy, huge Zeppelin fan. Loved your list Frank.
That was so cool mate, would love to see a video or maybe ten of you playing these songs, it would be even cooler if we could see both your hands. Would like to follow your jouney, may help but not be the same as yours. Cheers bud, take care and thanks mate for that, it was inspirational.
Tears in heaven, Collin Raye's Love me, Vincent and Richard Mark's Now and Forever especially the bridge. Of course More than Words is special. I heard a guy from Trinidad play Castle's in the Air and Chiquitita and I was blown away.
Great topic. I’d always learn a new technique by learning a song that required it. For example… Scrape: I Will Follow You into the Dark Scratch-mute/chukka: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing. Fingerpicking: Dust in the Wind Picking out bass notes while strumming: almost any Dave Matthews song Barre chords: Torn (Natalie Imbruglia’s version) Alternating picking and strumming: Over the Hills and Far Away Finger nail brush/flick: Old Pine Alternate tunings: Any Nick Drake song …still need to learn Paul McCartney’s finger flick in Blackbird.
The best way to learn any technique. I as a teacher always believe that any technique or technique exercise should be tied to a song or at least a musical idea that can be used in the real world. I’m not a big fan of the ever popular 1234 finger exercises. They tie muscle memory to movements that do not produce anything that is useful. If you are going to practice a challenging “exercise” why not have it become part of a greater musical vocabulary?? Great comment and thank you 🙏
so glad I found you! we're close to the same age, and I love your music taste! great personality, and just a fun watch all together. I'm subscribed, thanks for the fun content!
Very interesting journey, not too different from mine! The difference is I started with accordion lessons. After watching Back to the Future, I realised accordion is not rock and roll and maybe music is not for me. After few years gap I started to play guitar by ear and tabs, but the music I liked. Milestones: Pink Floyd: Is there anybody out there? Eric Clapton: Signe Police: Every breath you take SRV: Mary had a little lamb But at this point I play electric guitar including Johnny B. Goode. And 30 years later I find out the technique I learned as kid is so go great, I still can play faster on accordion and gipsy jazz and Django is quite appealing now.
Love this! Hearing your guitar journey brings back so many memories. I still have and play my 1965 Martin D-18. Go to songs I play today are: Lyle Lovett - Which Way Does That Old Pony Run; Donovan - Sand and Foam; Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah; Fred J. Eaglesmith - Summer Lea; Hot Rize - Late In the Day; Rodney Crowell - Song For This Life; John Denver - Take Me Home Country Roads; Paul Simon - Scarborough Fair Canticle; Dave Van Ronk - Bad Dream Blues;
I was 16yo when I first heard Bob Dylan's "Hurricane". It shook me inside and I happened to learn it all by heart. Since a friend of mine played guitar, I teased him asking to strum the chords while I sang. But he didn't satisfy me. So I was taught the chords and that is how I started. But when I heard Tarrega's Capriche Arabe I made a huge, huge step forward.
In no particular order these are the players who set me on my acoustic guitar journey; Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Hank Williams, Neil Young, David Bromberg, Taj Mahal, Lightning Hopkins, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Jerry Garcia, Nick Lucas, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Leo Kotke, John Fahey, Rambling Jack Elliot, Jerry Garcia, and most recently, Hayes Carll.
My first songs that I played were by Peter, Paul and Mary, their guitar parts were absolutely beautiful. I then went into Simon and Garfunkel music when my high school classmates wanted to sing their songs. I started Classical guitar because I wanted to play finger style when I was about 15, and I performed “Classical Gas” and “Girl from Ipanema” during my high school graduation concert. Went into jazz guitar during college and continued playing classical and jazz today for about 50 years.
I had a six string in the eighties at the beginning of my journey. I bought a guitar magazine, one of the transcriptions was Never Going Back Again, Fleetwood Mac. I followed the instructions, bought a capo, tuned down 5 and 6 string, and….slowly…. MY GOD, I could actually play this song if I work at it!! The fact a song that beautiful could be achieved by one guitar in MY hands, with a little work, was enough to motivate me. Ladies of the Canyon was a similar find. Free Fallin’ was an early staple, I could strum like crazy and play those open chord positions. Neil Young is just an awesome example of how to pick a song, and My my, Hey Hey was an example of what you mentioned, picking a melody in between / during the chord strumming. An early gem was High and Dry by Radiohead, I love that kind of syncopated strumming and the funky chord shapes. Over the Hills and Far Away was big for me too, as was / is Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, with its haunting, descending melody and dramatic flourishes. Thanks for making the site, I,’m a subscriber now. I only took the guitar more seriously as of 2020, but I’ve come a long way and I’m dipping my toes into live performances. I’ll be checking out your advice on doing it. Music brings joy, doesn’t it? 🦉🦉
What a great way of telling us about your stepping stone songs. When I see a young boy or girl who is thinking about picking up a guitar I will show them this video to give them inspiration
Thanks dude. Big time memory lane. 🎉🎉🎉 my first tune that I've learned was The house of the rising sun by The Animals. Big thanks to the father of one of my mates that was crazy about Beatles, Animals, Stones. I remember when he couldn't find a pick he improvised with a tooth pick!!! 😂😂😂
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing about your journey. I’m a piano guy who like every American male took up guitar during Covid. Having a blast relearning all these songs on a new instrument. Cheers from Texas.
Really enjoyed your video! It took me back to my early guitar lessons when my teacher had me playing songs from the 30sand 40s! The Beatles were new and that's what I wanted to play! I'm 72 now. Had a stroke in 2011which took out my whole right arm. It's improved,but still hard to sync my two hands. In fact,I'm playing more now than I ever have. Anyway, God bless you and thanks again for your excellent video!
Thank you again Frank for making me love the acoustic guitar all over again. 1/2 those songs are in my repertoire but the other half I skipped over at the time for one reason or another. You always seem to bring them to life and highlight what I loved about them at that time. Anyways I’m left inspired. Thanks
I guess I started back in about 1970 with a Yamaki acoustic, which I still have as of 2024. One of the first pieces I taught myself was "Don't Think Twice" and I just naturally started to finger pick it. I still like playing a lot of Bob Dylan songs. The chord progressions are easier than the words. LOL.
I recognized two songs, the rest were after my time. For me, music died in ‘68 with ACID. I’m more into House off the Rising Sun, Country Roads, Beach Boys, Dion, Ricky Nelson, etc.
The Needle and the Damage Done - finger style got me started. Got a John Denver song book and learned a lot from it. Black Bird and Here Comes the Sun kept me busy for a long time.
Excellent picks and excellenter guitar bio! I started with electric a long time ago, made lots of noise for a long time. I don't feel like I was any kind of real guitarist until about 10 years ago when I got my Ibanez acoustic and started learning how to play the right way, without a distortion pedal covering up my weak skills. Now kinda wishing that I had started with acoustic, I am pretty sure I would have been much better much sooner. And since have just been re-energized with the purchase of a Taylor 12-string, can't put it down in the last week I have owned it! Thank you for sharing a great video, Frank, now time for me to get busy on some of those, especially "Wish You Were Here" and "Fade to Black".
I love your video! Great story telling and very in tune with the nuances of the progression of learning different skills and styles. Though I was born in 1983 and started playing guitar in 1999, I can relate to your appreciation for music and the game changing experiences with learning new things on guitar. Thanks for sharing your journey
Wish I’d started at 11 instead of 67 lol Anyway, love to hear the NYC accent. I’m a Bronx boy living in Cali the last 10 years. Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t mention my accent. Enjoyed the video If I ever get serious with practice I can be pretty good in my 90s
I remember going to the midnight movies in high school to see Neil Young’s concert film “Rust Never Sleeps.” We got there early and hung out in parking lot and did what long-haired guys in flannel shirts were want to do to get ready to rock. I was so impressed by the acoustic set, that I bought a guitar a few days later. Needle and the Damage Done was particularly influential. Jimmy Page’s acoustic stuff came shortly after. Some years later I picked up some acoustic blues and Travis picking, and although Im not great at it, I really enjoy it.
My brothers were all guitar players in the 60s and 70s, forthwith! I learned Rocky Raccoon (Beatles) Four and Twenty (Crosby Stills and Nash), Love Song (Elton John), A John Denver chord progression, The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkle), I Will (Beatles), And Moondance (Van Morrison - capo first fret)
stand by me because my wife loved it then sound of silence because I loved it and it was hard for me at the time and had an F. They were one and two, thanks for the video. My instructors mostly Marty and Justin on RUclips
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Thank you so much for sharing your journey. At 67 I retired and decided to learn guitar. I’m 75 now. Of course I still have so much to learn. Hearing your journey was so enjoyable and inspiring. It made want to pick up the guitar even more.😊 You have a special knack of humanizing the guitar learning experience. It can be so lovely and frustrating at the same time. Stumbling across your video really made my morning. Thank you so much!
If it makes you feel any better I’m playing 40 years and I still get frustrated. You are never don’t learning … as soon as you open a new door on the guitar in the form of an improvement the joy is short lived because you learn that behind that door you just revealed 100 new doors lol. Best of luck to you
i man 69 and started 3 years ago alone without teacher ...easiar for me to start with electric ....strumming makes me a lot of problems ...the next i like to play country but found that i can not sing so no way ....i am fascinated of Jimi Hendrix ,,,so i started to learn Hey Joe ...now i am trying to play the first layer of Tash Sultana Dschungel ...now after i tryed to learn a tune from Bob Marley i learned to play the rythm in the tune ,,,which is a kind of raeggae ...also the problem with the barcords that they sound nice ...so much to learn in technics
sorry for my poor english ..i am german ...greatings from Colombia
Learning never stops at any musical instrument. The only important constant is to enjoy it.
@@TheHesseJames 100%
I've been playing for 60 years, still get frustrated at times but have learned to appreciate how wonderful the resonance of the guitar soothes my body and soul!
I’m 73 and I laid down my electric and picked up an acoustic ( actually a nylon string classical) when I heard Mason William’s Classical Gas.
I have been finger picking since.
That’s awesome! 😎
That was fascinating, love watching how someone’s journey develops. I only started at 50 years old and have the comfort blanket of RUclips and yet I am not even in the same league as people like you. I always admire musicians who could pick up how to play from listening to things over and over again also you have a really listenable, relaxed singing voice …. all in all, a great watch!
Glad you enjoyed and thank you for commenting.
The first day I got a guitar, I learned the E chord. My brothers were into bluegrass and would sit around and play. I think it was "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms." I just kept hammering that E chord. They finally asked me to stop till I learned a couple more chords.
Hmm i replied to this earlier but for some reason its now showing up right. LOL .. but yes we just keep playing it and playing it until people cant stand it.. then play it some more!! haha
Started with D
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Im doing that right now. My first song after 6 months of nothing but fundamentals, the last 2 weeks I've been playing Blackbird every way I can. Changing the patterns, adding some other chords, extending this, shortening that. I started very late. I told myself the first year i wouldn't be able to play anything, just practicing chords, finger picking in a bunch of stules, and each day try to make music with those patterns and chords. Still can't shift chords fast enough to be musical half the time. I can make little songs out of all the chords though and am pushing hard on changes. For Blackbird I had to learn to use my nail faces claw hammer style. Made it so much more efficient and dynamic. I still pluck alot and pinch pick constantly, but that quick flick has opened things up. I have so far to go, just about getting a taste of what it will feel like to play guitar. I got this uncontrollable need to know what it feels like. Got some guitars that let me practice when i usually couldn't. Enya nova go acoustic to get wet and bang up, traveler headless for red lights. Im only half joking. Ramble over.
Oh, the point of that was i keep playing blackbird medley over and over again. The lady and the dog are rolling eyes.
My first major acoustic guitar accomplishment was Angie.
I was so proud of learning that one on my own.
That’s awesome. Started with the first letter of the alphabet and not a bad one to start with ! 👍
That's quite a difficult song to play for the first piece. Just shows you how fantastic this song is that it motivated you enough to bite yourself through it.
@@TheHesseJames Ok, by “first song” I’m not including your typical 3 chord country or blues.
Everyone’s first rock chord progression was likely Smoke on the Water… t’was mine. 😆
@@TheHesseJames i agree... angie was a pain in the ass even when i learned it later on lol
@@Bushman9 Was literally my first song as well. I saw a guitar, grabbed it said to myself "Let's see how would I play Smoke on the Water". I thought I totally nailed it by playing it all in halfsteps somewhere on the sixth string :D
So glad I ran across your RUclips channel! At my age (70) I find there's still much to be learned. Your style is so laid back and easy to watch. Thanks for doing what you do!
It’s my pleasure. Guitar is very humbling indeed :)
I’m 71 now and still plays those songs you have mentioned. My journey is almost like yours as far as falling in love with acoustic guitars. I was I think 8 years old and my older brother borrowed a guitar from a friend and when he got tired of it he placed it in a corner and I picked it up and started messing with it. I found the C chord with just 2 fingers same with the G chord with one finger playing just the 4 strings since my hand was too small for my fingers to reach the other 2 strings. I found that the song The Wedding I can basically play with just those 2 chords and that was it I got hooked. I sang and played that song all night.
That’s awesome. Funny how those memories never go away. Thanks for sharing with us all
Nice story, I had a few chuckles! I started playing guitar in the mid 70's at 14( Alfred's). I got my 1st electric at 15 started a band and the guitar literally didn't leave my hands until I was 31 years old. At 31 I played what was to be my last gig, put my guitar in it's case, and unintentionally did not touch it for 30 years. Last year I sold the tech company I founded 30 years ago and found guitar again. This time I am obsessed by acoustic finger style. Your comment about having to learn songs by playing records over and over at half speed made me laugh. I wore out so many of my favorite albums learning songs. I love U-tube and certainly makes it easier, but there was a certain satisfaction in learning a song by ear the old way. The human imperfections and differences in the way my ear heard the songs is what gave me my style back in the day. There also weren't many kids that would spend their weekends playing the same Clapton lick over and over a 1000 times in order to learn it. So when you put in the work, you got a lot of attention for it. Not a bad thing for a geeky 15 year old.. lol
Hey there. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us all. Very inspirational especially you coming back after some time away from it. Wish you all the best
@@FrankPersico Thanks for the reply! I enjoy your channel.. I may yet end up doing some acoustic gigs, I will see how the playing progresses.. It's not like riding a bike, it is going to take some work!
@@pietersmidt8593 as long as you are enjoying it. all that matter. best of luck to u
Yes. ALFREDS CHORD CHART FROM THE MID 1960's. I STILL HAVE MINE. Even my kids used it.
My parents was country,my dad was a musician and tried to encourage me to learn..but when I became a teenager and heard a Led Zeppelin song “Over the Hills and Far Away “ that really inspired me to learn guitar (which deeply disappointed my dad 😢) 🤷🏻♂️..thank you
Zeppelin can have that effect on people:)
I love the way you struck a single chord on A Horse With No Name ans showed how that made music which was more than lots of fancy fingerwork. Not that the fancy fingerwork doesn't count, obviously, but it gives a limited old guy like me some hope
It’s all in the touch.. dynamics.. tone..and timing… that’s what makes people want to listen. Master the small details and people will want to hear you play. Thanks for commenting
playing guitar is cool, but story telling is one of the greatest skills to acquire. You are a great storyteller, really enjoyed this video.
when I was a Senior in high school I worked w/ TV repairman who in time became my best friend. He was the OG bluesman, I was in awe of his playing and one day , after listening to him for some time, I said I would give my left leg to be able to play like that, He said ... well, would you practice 30 min a day? I started playing that day . I never have been able to play like David but it has enriched my life non the less
Thanks for the kind words and the comment.
@@FrankPersico thanks for the trip down memory lane
I took some lessons in the early 70's and Alfred was the man back then too!!! Didn't do much after that. Really didn't start getting to it heavy until I was 61 a couple of years ago. Got really bad sick with covid. Pretty much retired now and have time to really get after it!
Alfred is still going strong. I’m glad to hear you are recovered and playing at full strength!!
Got twenty years on you, but I remember my journey clearly. House of the rising sun, Beatles, moody blues, Santana, Ten years after, CSN. Then my dad moved us to Los Angeles when I was 19 and I got steamrolled by the Southern California sound in the early 70’s. Eagles, Linda Ronstadt etc. so many fun songs I still play 50 years later. Thank Frank! Very enjoyable!
Thanks for sharing !! Great music picks as well
I started playing later in life at 49 but some of those songs were my starters. Wish you were here, horse with no name. My Beatles first was love me do. Brown eyed girl, american pie. You never forget your first songs. Great video.
Thanks for watching and posting!
Hmmm, I'm wondering what was the first Beatles' song I tried to play. Might have been "Hard Days Night"
The first song I learned on guitar was Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovie, then went on to learn Friends in low places, Killing time and various other country songs by artists like Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Allan Jackson, and George Straight from the 90's. I used to walk down the street to a BBQ place on Thursday nights when I was 12 and play those country songs for 2 pulled pork sandwiches. I thought that was the life.
Awesome thanks for sharing… hahaha “will play for food” I can relate
That WAS THE LIFE!
@@timjoyce8636 yup. wish i knew it then...
John Martyn "May you never" inspired my finger style ... Slaps, pull offs, etc. And drop D tuning. 1978.
I never heard of that song or artist before. Just listened to the song. Thanks for mentioning it!
Nice one. Thanks for sharing
@@davidkopec5587 Listen to John Martyn's 1967 version of the old blues song. 'Cocaine': ruclips.net/video/rPOWeLe59hI/видео.html
Hotel California, Wish you were here, Old Man, More than a feelin, Sound of Silence and the Boxer, etc... My songs I learned from. Started playing at 47, now 57 and I am building my own electrics, an acoustic will also happen. LOL
Awesome thanks so much for sharing with us all.
Yeah I learned all those too,mostly just listening to cassettes if anyone remembers those
@@tedlivermore6955 I do hahaha and I still have them around at home!!!
Started out on my dads acoustic, learning three chords C,F and G. Later learned other chords then on to bar chords. When to electric guitars etc. I have always been of the mind set that the acoustic should be the first guitar to learn on. The strength your hands and fingers. You can't cheat on the sound .
I agree. It’s easier to transition from acoustic to electric than the other way around.
Thoroughly enjoyed your journey with the acoustic guitar and songs that resonate to this day. Your personal touch stands out.
Thank you kindly!
I enjoyed your video, thank you for sharing.
I'm 69 years old and I started learning the guitar two years ago, I don't use a pick. Horse with No Name is one of my favourite songs, I need to learn it. I have very small hands so it's been physically challenging but I love the guitar and I'm obsessed! My baby finger is only 1 3/4", that's my obstacle as it makes a lot of chords difficult, 4 finger G is a pain.
I have a friend who plays by ear and he pushed me to do barre chords right from the beginning, I'm getting pretty good. ?? He also says "just listen" which is very intimidating. I wonder how important that is at my age and with chords for any song being available immediately, I didn't want to spend hours, days or months trying to learn a song by ear but I have found that it happens naturally to some extent. I'm not musically gifted but I know practicing and enjoying playing produces good results. I'm also learning to sing, that's very trippy, the voice coming out of my face always surprises me but I think I sound good. ?? lol
I've learned the following songs, some are fairly new and I'm still working on them.
Wish You Were Here
Creep
Mad World
House of the Rising Sun
Hotel California
Short People
For What It's Worth
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
And I Love Her
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Where Have All the Flowers Gone
Eleanor Rigby
Angie
Come As You Are
Dancing in the Moonlight.
My Ding -a-Ling
Stray Cat Strut
Fire and Rain, I must learn this one.
Looks like you are doing pretty well. Congrats on your progress!!
Some good old songs in your repertoire.
thanks Frank, i am retired and now have a few guitars and trying to learn something or anything. your video has given me something to think about.
Great to hear!
The song that opened my mind to fingerpicking was Landscape. And then after learning the fingerpicking, it was another layer of learning to be able to sing it while part of my brain was on auto doing the fingerpicking. And finally incorporating a melody over the background fingerpicking was something I never imagined I could do. I’m addicted to fingerpicking now.
Singing while fingerpicking is a great feelingnn no once you finally get it down. Congrats!!
A beautiful compilation so beautifully told. I really enjoyed listening to this journey of yours. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for commenting
Love your vocal tone. 65 yrs old and still learning
Thanks so much. The journey never ends. I learn something new in the guitar every time I play or hear someone else play.
Yes nice voice
fun fact that surprises people.... Clapton's Unplugged is actually the biggest selling "live" album of all time. It was played in front of a live audience for MTV, so it qualified as a "live" album and went on to far surpass the sales of any other live album in history.
That is an awesome fun fact. I did not know that. Thanks for sharing
Frank, that is a great list. You are talented, no doubt about it.
Thanks so much. Cheers
First time I stumbled across you. The internet is a very big place. I love this video. When you first started talking I thought “Oh no. One of THOSE guys that love their voice more than guitar” BUT your stories were humble and enchanting, not a bunch of bragging. Thanks!
Wow, thank you! Welcome to the channel
Great video! The two songs what took a HUGE amount of my time.... 1). Blackbird - The Beatles | 2). Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths. Oh, what did I learn!? That the Key of E in the Piano Book (pre-internet), was actually the Key of C with a capo on the fourth fret.... now the impossible became an enormous challenge!!!!! Good times, good times. Again, your journey was very enjoyable, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your experiences !!! Love hearing from the community
1st two songs same, 3rd was Over the Hills, 4th was Enter Sandman, 5th was wish you were here(singing started here) 6th was Say what you will, 7th was Nutshell, 8th was Sanitarium, 9th was From the beginning, 10th Hang by Matchbox 20(singing).
Great songs and thanks for sharing. I would bet you are just slightly younger than me…. Yes? I’m born in 74
My son has started to master the guitar .what you said about your moms song’s being your songs made me happy thanks🇺🇸
My pleasure: thanks for the comment. Wish your son the best on his musical journey 🎵
First song I learned was Bob Dylan's Blowing in the Wind.
Yeah, I'm old. But it was nice and slow easy chord changes for a ten year old.
And a great song!
You must be a similar vintage to me.
I was taught finger-style picking when I was 13 in 1971. So I learned songs by Chet Atkins and Meryl Travis. But in my late teens, the acoustic songs I loved to hear and learned to play, were the Beatles, Black Bird; the Moody Blues, In The Beginning; and the acoustic intro for Yes, Roundabout.
Good time to be grown up and learning music. I’m jealous ..cheers
I was 12 and mom got me guitar lessons from a guy who advertised in the local paper. I went down to his basement and there was a whole band set up. He played some type of electric guitar. He. Showed me 3 chords during the first lesson, wrote the diagrams on a sheet of paper, showed me how to form them with my fingers. Then he asked me what song I wanted to learn and wrote the lyrics down and the chord names in. The appropriate spot. I don’t recall the first one, but I took that home and worked on it like crazy. I loved it, I was actually making music I recognized. I took 10 lessons from him and have been playing ever since. I still have those sheets and remember his name some 50 years later.
That’s great! My first teachers have that same place in my memory. Both gone now but I’m thankful for them. Thanks for sharing
We must be close to the same age...recognize all of those! I can only play one or two of them right now. You've inspired me to pick up at least six more of those
That’s awesome … you can do it! I’m born in 74
Awesome journey ! I grew up in Queens, went to Newtown HS, recall having White Castle burgers and Nathan’s hot dogs on the Blvd. Tried learning to play when my teenage daughter started 15 years ago but gave up - busy life, working. I’m retired now and at 69, just picked up the guitar 6 months ago, it’s slow going but fun.
With access to videos like yours, I’m hopeful that my journey is on a path towards lifetime of enjoyment. I love the sound of the dozen or so chords I can play on my acoustic guitar. I’m still at the Horse with No Name stage but hope to advance….
A fellow Queens native! Thanks for commenting. When you say White Castle in the boulevard do you mean Rockaway Blvd??? Anyhoo good luck with your playing and it will progress. Enjoy the victories along the way!!
@@FrankPersico I could walk to Queens Blvd from high school in Elmhurst. I’ve been ones on Rockaway Blvd too. Thanks for your encouragement, I love acoustic guitars !!
Keep going. You will not regret it.
@@desireelevin8822 I will for sure ! Thanks.
Well done .. brings back memories.. yes.. the horse with no name .. played that too early on .. and it grabs u and really takes u on a journey.. Beatles tune in beginning was GET BACK.. James Tayler you‘ve got a friend .. I loved playing.. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge over troubled water .. that’ll be the day buddy holly .. can’t help falling in love Elvis .. thank you .. thank you very much!!!
Ahhh all great songs! Thanks for sharing with us. Cheers
Paul Simon is a very underrated guitarist..has been for 60 years.
Oh yeah… love his playing
For my gang....it was House of the Rising Sun for our weekend beach outings....Drinking beer at 16 years of age and playing some guitar...what little songs we knew how to play...
Great song. I get a lot of requests for House of The Rising sun ☀️ actually
Old fart here: the ‘killer’ groove for me was on House of the Rising Sun. By the third lesson it was ‘revealed’-nothing but a simple arpeggio of chords I had to learn anyway- and I was floored.
Excellent song. Thanks for sharing
I would say, Tell Me Why, + Old Man, by Neil Young, and CSN’s tunes Helplessly Hoping, and 4 and 20, Suite Judy Blueeyes (in D modal tuning)
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing
My first songs on guitars were by lessons with a teacher in person. First song was G.L.O.R.I.A by Them and then it was Hank Williams Sr and Elvis.
Thanks for sharing. Great sons to have learned as well!
65 now.....Jim Croce's 'Time In A Bottle" made me pick up the guitar, but yeh-soon graduated on to James Taylor ("You Can Close your eyes" -Fav)and the wondrous Guitar style, songwriting ,voice (and Tunings) of John Martyn . Also huge shout out to Mark Knopfler and Sting. Also love a bit of Early America and of course The Eagles.
Nice influences there. Thanks for sharing.
Yep. Croce, the Eagles, America and one you didn't mention - Don Mclean - all helped me seal the deal with my future wife... 45 years ago and counting. See, it is possible!
What a wonderful "real life musical journey"! It felt familiar, yet really inspiring- thank you so much!
You are so welcome!
Excellent choices to learn from. Your journey has a few from mine as well. although mine started when I heard Jim Croce. Such an amazing singer/songwriter.😊
That he was. Thanks for commenting. Welcome to the channel
Awesome. Thank you❤ I have been learning guitar for about a year now and have only managed a few open chords... I want to learn fingerstyle now... Your video gives me hope and also tells that it takes time, but with practice, one does get there eventually!
Of course. Proper direction and patience will get you there. Feel free to reach out via email (in the about section of my page) if you had any questions or if you ever wanted to set up an online one on one. I wish you the best in your guitar journey!! And thanks for commenting :):)
@@FrankPersicothank you❤🙏
A lovely reawakening of my own learning curve before online tuition, Hours of replaying the 'record' eventually mastering? The thumb
Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for posting
Hearing you recount your journey in an accent I am so familiar with was pure joy. I grew up not far from you out on the Island (Setauket / Stony Brook) and had a similar experience moving along the acoustic guitar learning curve. The songs that stand out are:
Carolina in my mind
If you could read my mind
Anything by Creedance
Thanks for your enthusiasm (infectious) and your ability to relate to those that are still learning (I'm 67 :) )
Thanks for the kind words and for your songs!! All the best to you
Great video! I watched from beginning to end then immediately subscribed. These are all great songs. I’m an older guy taking up guitar later in life. Your video is inspiring.
Thanks so much. I appreciate the kind words. Welcome to my channel
I love the nostalgic memories of the 80 s. The banana seat, the memory of mother buying your first guitar. Back then, things had more meaning and value, and you had to wait for stars to align to get some things you wished for. The same feeling was in the nostalgic movie about 80s kids plotting to aquire Nintendo...
I also like your child bemusement at the techniques that produced certain melodies. I remember those too.
Thanks for the kind words.
A great selection of songs Frank and I have to say I was privileged to be a teenager in the 60s in UK so I knew all about the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Eric Clapton. I was a late starter only playing guitar properly when I was 18 in 1969 and I'm now 72. Do I add to this list or also put Don McLean and Donovan. And to make it very folky the King of folk guitar in Britain, Ralph McTell. Check out his most famous song streets of London and many others Clare to Here, ZigZag Line, and the epic Nettle Wine. I also listen to other players but could never play their stuff such as Stefan Grossman., Burt Jansch, John Redbourne, John Martyn.
Thanks so much and thanks even more for sharing with us. I will check that out!
I'm in my 50s, and some of mine are Tears in Heaven, Dust in the Wind, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You and Blackbird.
Great ones indeed! Thanks for sharing
Nothing Else Matters is the song I wanted to learn so badly. I now play it..badly..
Plus Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, Tangerine, The Rain Song, etc etc.
Basically anything by Jimmy, huge Zeppelin fan.
Loved your list Frank.
Thanks so much and thanks for sharing your picks
That was so cool mate, would love to see a video or maybe ten of you playing these songs, it would be even cooler if we could see both your hands. Would like to follow your jouney, may help but not be the same as yours. Cheers bud, take care and thanks mate for that, it was inspirational.
Thanks for the idea! Will deff do more instructional type vids too!
Wonderwall was my first acoustic song I learnt. Easy chords but hard strumming patterns. Taught me so much
For sure. 👍 thanks for commenting
I really enjoyed your guitar journey. Thanks for sharing this
Glad you enjoyed it!
I dearly wish I could play like you!! WELL DONE 👍🏻
Thank you very much! You can just practice :):)
Tears in heaven, Collin Raye's Love me, Vincent and Richard Mark's Now and Forever especially the bridge. Of course More than Words is special. I heard a guy from Trinidad play Castle's in the Air and Chiquitita and I was blown away.
Thanks for commenting and sharing with the community :)
Great topic. I’d always learn a new technique by learning a song that required it. For example…
Scrape: I Will Follow You into the Dark
Scratch-mute/chukka: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.
Fingerpicking: Dust in the Wind
Picking out bass notes while strumming: almost any Dave Matthews song
Barre chords: Torn (Natalie Imbruglia’s version)
Alternating picking and strumming: Over the Hills and Far Away
Finger nail brush/flick: Old Pine
Alternate tunings: Any Nick Drake song
…still need to learn Paul McCartney’s finger flick in Blackbird.
The best way to learn any technique. I as a teacher always believe that any technique or technique exercise should be tied to a song or at least a musical idea that can be used in the real world. I’m not a big fan of the ever popular 1234 finger exercises. They tie muscle memory to movements that do not produce anything that is useful. If you are going to practice a challenging “exercise” why not have it become part of a greater musical vocabulary?? Great comment and thank you 🙏
Great informative video. I love all of these songs.
Thanks for the comment!
so glad I found you! we're close to the same age, and I love your music taste! great personality, and just a fun watch all together. I'm subscribed, thanks for the fun content!
Thank you so much!! Welcome to the channel.
Very interesting journey, not too different from mine! The difference is I started with accordion lessons. After watching Back to the Future, I realised accordion is not rock and roll and maybe music is not for me. After few years gap I started to play guitar by ear and tabs, but the music I liked. Milestones: Pink Floyd: Is there anybody out there? Eric Clapton: Signe Police: Every breath you take SRV: Mary had a little lamb But at this point I play electric guitar including Johnny B. Goode. And 30 years later I find out the technique I learned as kid is so go great, I still can play faster on accordion and gipsy jazz and Django is quite appealing now.
Oh wow. accordion. totally cool. you got good taste im music too man! cheers and thanks for posting the comment!
This was a great video! Good mix of story telling and technique. Thx!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love this! Hearing your guitar journey brings back so many memories. I still have and play my 1965 Martin D-18. Go to songs I play today are: Lyle Lovett - Which Way Does That Old Pony Run; Donovan - Sand and Foam; Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah; Fred J. Eaglesmith - Summer Lea; Hot Rize - Late In the Day; Rodney Crowell - Song For This Life; John Denver - Take Me Home Country Roads; Paul Simon - Scarborough Fair Canticle; Dave Van Ronk - Bad Dream Blues;
All excellent… thanks for sharing
Very interesting video - nothing as revealing as a guitarists' journey. Thank you! Subbed!
Thanks for the sub!
I was 16yo when I first heard Bob Dylan's "Hurricane". It shook me inside and I happened to learn it all by heart. Since a friend of mine played guitar, I teased him asking to strum the chords while I sang. But he didn't satisfy me. So I was taught the chords and that is how I started. But when I heard Tarrega's Capriche Arabe I made a huge, huge step forward.
Great songs both of them. Thanks for sharing
The first son horse with no name love it xD
👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing Frank. You are a good player!
Thanks so much. All the Best to u
In no particular order these are the players who set me on my acoustic guitar journey; Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Hank Williams, Neil Young, David Bromberg, Taj Mahal, Lightning Hopkins, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Jerry Garcia, Nick Lucas, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Leo Kotke, John Fahey, Rambling Jack Elliot, Jerry Garcia, and most recently, Hayes Carll.
Awesome list. Thanks for sharing with us all
Great choices. Love all these songs. So glad you found James Taylor and Simon and Garfunkel. The Jimmy Page sounded really sweet.
Thanks so much.
Agreed about Over the hills,over forty years later i still find it hard to play correctly.
Ahahah yeah me too sometimes
Nice story telling! Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, lots of good players!
Thanks so much. Yeah this area has created many great players
My first songs that I played were by Peter, Paul and Mary, their guitar parts were absolutely beautiful. I then went into Simon and Garfunkel music when my high school classmates wanted to sing their songs. I started Classical guitar because I wanted to play finger style when I was about 15, and I performed “Classical Gas” and “Girl from Ipanema” during my high school graduation concert. Went into jazz guitar during college and continued playing classical and jazz today for about 50 years.
That’s a great start and great progression. Thanks for sharing
I had a six string in the eighties at the beginning of my journey. I bought a guitar magazine, one of the transcriptions was Never Going Back Again, Fleetwood Mac. I followed the instructions, bought a capo, tuned down 5 and 6 string, and….slowly…. MY GOD, I could actually play this song if I work at it!! The fact a song that beautiful could be achieved by one guitar in MY hands, with a little work, was enough to motivate me. Ladies of the Canyon was a similar find. Free Fallin’ was an early staple, I could strum like crazy and play those open chord positions. Neil Young is just an awesome example of how to pick a song, and My my, Hey Hey was an example of what you mentioned, picking a melody in between / during the chord strumming. An early gem was High and Dry by Radiohead, I love that kind of syncopated strumming and the funky chord shapes. Over the Hills and Far Away was big for me too, as was / is Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, with its haunting, descending melody and dramatic flourishes. Thanks for making the site, I,’m a subscriber now. I only took the guitar more seriously as of 2020, but I’ve come a long way and I’m dipping my toes into live performances. I’ll be checking out your advice on doing it. Music brings joy, doesn’t it? 🦉🦉
Awesome I’m glad to have you as a subscriber and thank you for taking the time to share with us. I can relate! Cheers
What a great way of telling us about your stepping stone songs. When I see a young boy or girl who is thinking about picking up a guitar I will show them this video to give them inspiration
Thanks so much
Over the hills and far away is one of the first songs I learned to play back in the early 80's. It is probably the reason I wanted to learn to play!
Thanks for sharing. I can totally understand as I’m most other guitarists can as well. 🤘
Great video Frank , all the way from 🇬🇧 ohh yes and most of your favourites 🇬🇧
Glad you enjoyed
Love the Marty Schwartz cameo 😂 great content Frank! Keep it up! 🎸
Gotta give him his props lol
Thanks dude. Big time memory lane. 🎉🎉🎉 my first tune that I've learned was The house of the rising sun by The Animals.
Big thanks to the father of one of my mates that was crazy about Beatles, Animals, Stones. I remember when he couldn't find a pick he improvised with a tooth pick!!! 😂😂😂
Rock on! Thanks for sharing!! Cheers
The Tall Fiddler. .
Guitar boogie..
The last steam engine... Are all favorites of mine.. Solo instrumentals really....
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing about your journey. I’m a piano guy who like every American male took up guitar during Covid. Having a blast relearning all these songs on a new instrument. Cheers from Texas.
Funny you should say that because I am SERIOUSLY thinking of taking piano lessons
I have never heard an acoustic guitar sound better
Then that Gibson you’re playing! Outstanding.
Oh wow. Thanks so much
Really enjoyed your video! It took me back to my early guitar lessons when my teacher had me playing songs from the 30sand 40s! The Beatles were new and that's what I wanted to play! I'm 72 now. Had a stroke in 2011which took out my whole right arm. It's improved,but still hard to sync my two hands. In fact,I'm playing more now than I ever have. Anyway, God bless you and thanks again for your excellent video!
Thanks for the kind words. Sorry to hear about that. But it’s great that you are playing. I bet it helped you heal in some way. Wish you the best.
Thank you again Frank for making me love the acoustic guitar all over again. 1/2 those songs are in my repertoire but the other half I skipped over at the time for one reason or another. You always seem to bring them to life and highlight what I loved about them at that time. Anyways I’m left inspired. Thanks
So happy to hear! Thanks for the comment
I guess I started back in about 1970 with a Yamaki acoustic, which I still have as of 2024. One of the first pieces I taught myself was "Don't Think Twice" and I just naturally started to finger pick it. I still like playing a lot of Bob Dylan songs. The chord progressions are easier than the words. LOL.
Love Dylan! And you can say that again. Lots of words lol
I recognized two songs, the rest were after my time. For me, music died in ‘68 with ACID. I’m more into House off the Rising Sun, Country Roads, Beach Boys, Dion, Ricky Nelson, etc.
All great music! Thanks for sharing.
Super fun video!
Thank you 🤗
The Needle and the Damage Done - finger style got me started. Got a John Denver song book and learned a lot from it. Black Bird and Here Comes the Sun kept me busy for a long time.
Thanks for sharing. Great tunes to have come up on.
Excellent picks and excellenter guitar bio! I started with electric a long time ago, made lots of noise for a long time. I don't feel like I was any kind of real guitarist until about 10 years ago when I got my Ibanez acoustic and started learning how to play the right way, without a distortion pedal covering up my weak skills. Now kinda wishing that I had started with acoustic, I am pretty sure I would have been much better much sooner. And since have just been re-energized with the purchase of a Taylor 12-string, can't put it down in the last week I have owned it! Thank you for sharing a great video, Frank, now time for me to get busy on some of those, especially "Wish You Were Here" and "Fade to Black".
Great stuff thanks for sharing. Sounds like you are doing just fine!
My journey preceded yours by thirty years but I've enjoyed seeing And hearing your journey.
Thanks! I appreciate it.
I love your video! Great story telling and very in tune with the nuances of the progression of learning different skills and styles. Though I was born in 1983 and started playing guitar in 1999, I can relate to your appreciation for music and the game changing experiences with learning new things on guitar. Thanks for sharing your journey
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting and welcome to the channel!!
The Beatles, Sunshine of My Love, Dylan. Blackbird taught me finger picking. Stairway to Heaven, In the Beginning, ELP.
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing
Wish I’d started at 11 instead of 67 lol
Anyway, love to hear the NYC accent. I’m a Bronx boy living in Cali the last 10 years. Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t mention my accent.
Enjoyed the video
If I ever get serious with practice I can be pretty good in my 90s
Hahaha you can do it!!!
I remember going to the midnight movies in high school to see Neil Young’s concert film “Rust Never Sleeps.” We got there early and hung out in parking lot and did what long-haired guys in flannel shirts were want to do to get ready to rock. I was so impressed by the acoustic set, that I bought a guitar a few days later. Needle and the Damage Done was particularly influential. Jimmy Page’s acoustic stuff came shortly after. Some years later I picked up some acoustic blues and Travis picking, and although Im not great at it, I really enjoy it.
Wow this is great stuff. Thanks so much for sharing. Cheers
My brothers were all guitar players in the 60s and 70s, forthwith! I learned Rocky Raccoon (Beatles) Four and Twenty (Crosby Stills and Nash), Love Song (Elton John), A John Denver chord progression, The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkle), I Will (Beatles), And Moondance (Van Morrison - capo first fret)
Jim Croce, Logginns and Messina,America & The Eagles Were my favorites
Good stuff … thanks for sharing
stand by me because my wife loved it then sound of silence because I loved it and it was hard for me at the time and had an F. They were one and two, thanks for the video. My instructors mostly Marty and Justin on RUclips
Thanks for sharing! Best to you and your playing!
"Down and out", by Blind Willie Mctell and Clapton and many others. Also People are strange- Doors.
Great ones!!
This is all great!
Thanks:)
Very cool video. Thx
My pleasure
Great story, great songs
Thanks so much